SARAJEVO, 2 Aug (Hina) - The High Representative for implementation of the Dayton agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, on Saturday sent a letter to the authorities of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sarajevo
Canton, protesting against yesterday's attack on a group of Serb refugees who arrived in the Sarajevo suburb of Vogosca to visit their homes. The visit was organised by the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
SARAJEVO, 2 Aug (Hina) - The High Representative for
implementation of the Dayton agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Carlos Westendorp, on Saturday sent a letter to the authorities
of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sarajevo Canton,
protesting against yesterday's attack on a group of Serb refugees
who arrived in the Sarajevo suburb of Vogosca to visit their
homes. The visit was organised by the U.N. High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR). #L#
In the letter, sent to the Federation Premier Edhem
Bicakcic and Sarajevo Canton Prefect Midhat Haracic, Westendorp
called yesterday's attack on Serb refugees a criminal act,
warning he had evidence that the incident had been organised.
The incident would certainly affect the future return of
refugees and the status of Vogosca as one of the country's open
towns, but also the return of Bosniac refugees to Brcko, a town
where a large number of Serbs who left Sarajevo after its
reintegration into the Federation are currently living.
It is shameful to manipulate the feelings of Bosniac
victims from Srebrenica and Zepa, who are now living in Vogosca,
Westendorp said in the letter, demanding that the local
authorities conduct an investigation into the incident and find
and punish the perpetrators.
The Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry on Saturday issued a
statement saying that the investigation into the incident had
already started, and adding that it would bring criminal charges
against the perpetrators.
It is estimated that some 350 to 400 persons, mainly
refugee women and children from eastern Bosnia, participated in
the attack on the municipal authorities' building in Vogosca,
where a group of 13 Serbs held talks with the representatives of
local authorities.
The police prevented their entry into the building and
possible more serious consequences, Sarajevo police claim. Ten
police officers received light injuries in the incident. No one
from the Serb group was injured, but the attack caused material
damage on the building, the same source said.
(hina) rm
021801 MET aug 97